Guide to the Alan Richard Aske Photograph Collection MS 889
Library & Archives staff
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
2021-11-15
Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: Alan Richard Aske photograph collection
Creator:
Aske, Alan R., 1926-2006
Identifier/Call Number: MS 889
Physical Description:
7.68 Linear Feet
5 record cartons, 2 oversize boxes, 4 "shoe boxes"
Date (inclusive): ca. 1863- ca. 1993
Abstract: The photographic material in this collection dates to ca. 1863-1993 and contains black and white negatives, print photos and
color slide collections of Southern Pacific locomotive power, primarily in Roseville, California in the 1950's taken by Alan
R. Aske.
Physical Location: Big Four Building
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research by appointment. Please contact CSRM Library & Archives Staff.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Helen Aske, 2007
Arrangement
MS 889 is arranged into four series:
Series 1: Negative Collection
Series 2: Print Collection
Subseries 1: Photo Prints
Subseries 2: Oversize Prints
Series 3: Slide Collection
Series 4: Scrapbook
Biographical / Historical
Alan Richard Aske was born on 5 February 1926 in Sacramento, California and passed away 2 September 2006 in Carmichael, California.
He was the son of Southern Pacific locomotive engineer, Walter Albert Aske (23 June 1889-12 May 1941) and Jessie [Tanner Crandall]
Aske (8 December 1886-14 May 1968). He had two sisters, Jean (Lamb) and Margaret (Starr). Aske grew up to to work for Southern
Pacific as a clerk at the roundhouse at Antelope and in the Roseville Yard office for 42 years and three months. Aske belonged
to Roseville Blue Lodge No. 227, Royal Arch Mason Chapter No. 143, Grand Council of Cryptic Mason No. 54 and No. 13, York
Rite and Scottish Rite, & Ben Ali Shriners. Aske was a well known Southern Pacific and western railroad photographer and
avid collector of SP operational materials. His photographs have appeared in numerous books and magazines over the years.
Aske married Helen J. Braden (1930-2010) on 29 Mar. 1953.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Alan R. Aske Photographs, MS 889, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento,
California.
Processing Information
In addition to the photo prints in Series 2, photo prints have been separated from this collection and interfilled in the
CSRM Southern Pacific photo collection.
Scope and Contents
The photographic material in this collection dates to ca. 1863-1993 and contains black and white negatives, print photos and
color slide collections of Southern Pacific locomotive power, primarily in Roseville, California in the 1950's taken by Alan
R. Aske.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of
the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which
must also be obtained by the reader.
For prints and/or negatives attributed to the photographer, Leonard M. "Duke" Davis, copyright has not been assigned to the
California State Railroad Museum. This image is available for reference use only. Permission to use must be submitted in
writing to Roseville Historical Society.
For prints and/or negatives attributed to the photographer, Al C. Phelps, copyright has not been assigned to the California
State Railroad Museum. This image is available for reference use only. Permission to use must be submitted in writing to
Signature Press.
Prints and/or negatives by Douglas Richter within this collection cannot be reproduced by CSRM. Copyright has not been assigned
to the California State Railroad Museum. Permission to use must be submitted in writing to Martin E. Hansen.
Bibliography
Aske, A. R. (n.d.). Roseville Pictorial I 1949-58. Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society Trainline, 15, cover, 4-14.
Aske, A. R. (n.d.). Roseville Pictorial II 1949-58. Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society Trainline, 16, 6-14.
Aske, A. R. (n.d.). Gerber. Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society Trainline, 21, 10–17.
Aske, A. R. (n.d.). The 2-8-0 A Consolidation Pictorial. Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society Trainline, 35, cover,
13-19.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Amtrak
Perris (Calif.)
Photography of railroads
Photograph collections
Railroads--Photography--Locomotives
Railroads--United States--Photography
Roseville (Calif.)
Sierra Railroad Company
Southern Pacific Company
Truckee (Calif.)
Western Pacific Railroad Company
Series 1: Negative Collection
1905-1977
Scope and Contents
Series 1: Negative Collection is a collection of 1,415 negatives of Roseville, California, Southern Pacific locomotives; the
bulk of the collection dating from the 1950's. While the primary photographer of the collection was Alan R. Aske, there are
some negatives from other noted photographers, such as Al C. Phelps, Douglas Richter and Stan Kistler. Each negative noted
the company name and the bulk of the collection and also identifies the photo location, date, and in many instances, the name
of the conductor and engineer that was running that specific train. Frequently, the named people are generally not visible
in the photo, but occasionally, the individual(s) are viewable in the photo. While there are photos from excursion trips that
Aske participated in, the bulk of the collection is of locomotives in the Roseville yard. Aske photographed several special
trains, such as California Governor Warren Special, Kennedy Special and Truman Special. These are photos of the trains as
they passed by and the people on the special trains are generally not visible in the photograph.There are photos of President
Truman standing on the back platform of the train as he gave a campaign speech in Roseville, CA in 1948.
Please see the CSRM online catalog or the attached PDF for negative listing.
Series 2: Print Collection
ca. 1863-1993
Scope and Contents
There are two series of prints; subseries 1 are prints that are 8x10 or smaller and subseries 2 are prints that are larger
than 8x10. Within the collection there are files labeled Southern Pacific [subject] and others labeled with the subject.
Since Aske heavily focused on Southern Pacific motive power, there are photos related to Southern Pacific motive power in
both the folders labeled Southern Pacific [subject] and others labeled with the subject of motive power.
In addition to the photo prints that are part of this collection, there are prints that have been removed from this collection
and interfiled within the CSRM Southern Pacific photo print collection. These prints are identified by Akse's name written
on the reverse of the print.
While the majority of the prints were taken by Aske, there are prints within the collection attributed to Leonard M. "Duke"
Davis, Harold Estudillo, Mike Kachiwabara, Stan Kistler, Richard Lohse, Al C. Phelps, Douglas Richter, and Thomas T. Taber
II among others.
Subseries 1: Photo prints
carton 1, folder 3
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
carton 1, folder 8
Camino Placerville & Lake Tahoe
carton 1, folder 9
California Nevada & Pacific Coast
carton 1, folder 16
Construction- Tunnel 2 at Emigrant Gap
Material Specific Details: For original prints, see Correspondence and Photos - Cecil N. Nagy - Tunnel 2 at Emigrant Gap
carton 1, folder 17
Denver & Rio Grande Western
carton 1, Folder 21
Diesel- various companies
carton 1, Folder 22
Events - Dedication of Antelope & Western
June 5, 1960
carton 1, folder 27
Excursion (color prints)
April 25, 1990
carton 1, folder 34-36
Locations (primarily California)
carton 1, folder 37
Locations: California: Jamestown
May 12, 1989
carton 1, folder 38
Locations: California: Norden (snow train)
February 1993
carton 1, folder 39
Locations: California: Old Sacramento
1986
carton 1, folder 40
Locations: California: Rocklin
carton 1, folder 41-42
Locations: California: Roseville
carton 1, folder 43
Locations: California: Tehachapi (color)
June 1990
carton 1, folder 44
Locations: Oregon
September 1987
carton 1, folder 51
Nevada County Narrow Gauge
carton 1, folder 55
Oregon, California & Eastern
carton 5, box 2
Postcard size photos
Material Specific Details: 267, unprocessed, modern, color 4x6 photos of Roseville, Southern Pacific locomotives, Southern Pacific 4449, Old Sacramento
and additional locomotives. The photos are primarily from 1984 when locomotives from across the United States were coming
to the Roseville yard to be readied for the California State Railroad Musuem Rail Fair of '84. There are some photos of identified
people within the collection.
carton 1, folder 66
Prints (from motion film)
November 1947
carton 1, folder 71
Roundhouses: Roseville, CA
carton 1, folder 73-78
Salt Lake Works (color prints)
1980's
carton 1, folder 79
San Diego & Arizona Eastern
carton 1, folder 81
S.A.L. "mate" units: Roseville, CA
November 28, 1977
carton 1, folder 87
Southern Pacific Cabooses
carton 1, folder 88-92
Southern Pacific color prints
carton 2, folder 1-6
Southern Pacific color prints
carton 2, folder 7
Southern Pacific and OP&E color prints
carton 2, folder 8
Southern Pacific and Rayonier color prints
carton 2, folder 9
Southern Pacific and Rio Grande color prints
carton 2, folder 10
Southern Pacific and Spokane, Portland & Seattle color prints
carton 2, folder 11
Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific color prints
carton 2, folder 12
Southern Pacific color prints by Stan Kistler
carton 2, folder 13-15
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives
carton 2, folder 16
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 3000's
carton 2, folder 17
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 4000's
carton 2, folder 18
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 5100-5299
carton 2, folder 19
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 5300's
carton 2, folder 20
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 5400's
carton 2, folder 21
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 5600's
carton 2, folder 22
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 5700's
carton 2, folder 23
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 6000-6029
carton 2, folder 24
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 6030-6039
carton 2, folder 25
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 6100's
carton 2, folder 26
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 6200's
carton 2, folder 27
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 6285
carton 2, folder 28
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 6300's
carton 2, folder 29
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 6400's
carton 2, folder 30
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 7000-7999
carton 2, folder 31
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 8000-8999
carton 2, folder 32
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 9000-9999
carton 2, folder 33
Southern Pacific electric cars
carton 2, folder 34-42
Southern Pacific Engineering Department
1913-1924
carton 2, folder 44
Southern Pacific: locations: Cisco, CA.
carton 2, folder 45
Southern Pacific: locations: Sparks, NV
carton 2, folder 46
Southern Pacific narrow gauge, No. 9
carton 2, folder 47
Southern Pacific no numbers
carton 2, folder 48
Southern Pacific passenger
carton 2, folder 49
Southern Pacific private cars
carton 2, folder 50
Southern Pacific rolling stock
carton 2, folder 51
Southern Pacific roundhouses
carton 2, folder 52
Southern Pacific shop engines
carton 2, folder 53
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1-999
carton 2, folder 54
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1000's
carton 2, folder 55
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1000-1099
carton 2, folder 56
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1100-1199
carton 2, folder 57
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1200-1299
carton 2, folder 58
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1300-1399
carton 2, folder 59
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1400-1499
carton 2, folder 60
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1500-1599
carton 2, folder 61
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1600-1699
carton 2, folder 62
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1660 excursion
May 15, 1949
carton 2, Folder 63
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1700-1799
carton 2, folder 64
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1744 excursion
May 4, 1958
carton 2, folder 65
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1800-1899
carton 2, folder 66
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1900-1999
carton 2, folder 67
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2000-2099
carton 2, folder 68
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2100-2199
carton 2, folder 69
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2200-2299
carton 2, folder 70
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2300-2399
carton 3, folder 1
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2400-2409
carton 3, Folder 2
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2410-2419
carton 3, folder 3
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2420-2429
carton 3, folder 4
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2430-2439
carton 3, folder 5
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2440-2449
carton 3, folder 6
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2450-2459
carton 3, folder 7
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2460-2469
carton 3, Folder 8
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2470-2479
carton 3, folder 9
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2480-2489
carton 3, folder 10
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2490-2499
carton 3, folder 11
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2500-2599
carton 3, Folder 12
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2600-2699
carton 3, folder 13
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2700-2799
carton 3, folder 14
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2800-2899
carton 3, folder 15
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2900-2999
carton 3, folder 16
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3000-3099
carton 3, folder 17
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3100-3199
carton 3, folder 18
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3200-3299
carton 3, folder 19
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3300-3399
carton 3, folder 20
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3400-3499
carton 3, folder 21
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3500-3599
carton 3, folder 22
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3600-3699
carton 3, folder 23
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3700-3799
carton 3, folder 24
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3800-3899
carton 3, folder 25
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3900-3999
carton 3, folder 26
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4000-4099
carton 3, folder 27
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4100-4109
carton 3, folder 28
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4110-4119
carton 3, folder 29
Southern Pacific steam locomotives4120-4129
carton 3, folder 30
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4130-4139
carton 3, Folder 31
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4140-4149
carton 3, folder 32
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4150-4159
carton 3, folder 33
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4160-4169
carton 3, folder 34
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4170-4179
carton 3, folder 35
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4180-4189
carton 3, folder 36
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4190-4199
carton 3, Folder 37
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4200-4299
carton 3, folder 38
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4200-4209
carton 3, folder 39
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4210-4219
carton 3, folder 40
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4220-4229
carton 3, folder 41
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4230-4239
carton 3, folder 42
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4240-4249
carton 3, folder 43
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4250-4259
carton 3, folder 44
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4260-4269
carton 3, folder 45
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4270-4279
carton 3, folder 46
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4280-4289
carton 3, folder 47
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4290-4299
carton 3, Folder 48-49
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4300-4309
carton 3, folder 50-51
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4310-4319
carton 3, folder 52-53
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4320-4329
carton 3, folder 54-55
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4330-4339
carton 3, Folder 56
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4340-4348
carton 3, Folder 57
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4344
carton 3, folder 58
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4349
carton 3, folder 59
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4350-4359
carton 3, folder 60
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4360-4369
carton 3, Folder 61
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4370-4379
carton 3, folder 62
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4370-4379
carton 3, folder 63
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4380-4389
carton 3, Folder 64
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4389-4389
carton 3, folder 65-66
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4390-4399
carton 4, folder 1-3
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4400-4499
carton 4, Folder 4
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4449 (color)
May 27, 1989
carton 4, Folder 5
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4500-4599
carton 4, Folder 6
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 5000-5999
carton 4, folder 7
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 6000-6999
carton 4, folder 8
Southern Pacific de Mexico
carton 4, Folder 9
Southern Pacific: Presidential train
carton 4, folder 11
Southern Pacific: wrecks: SP Diesel 6291
September 15, 1950
carton 4, folder 12-13
Southern Pacific Winter rail
carton 4, Folder 32
Western Pacific: depots/offices
carton 4, folder 34
Western Pacific steam locomotives 1-99
carton 4, Folder 35
Western Pacific steam locomotives 100-199
carton 4, Folder 36
Western Pacific steam locomotives 200-299
carton 4, Folder 37
Western Pacific steam locomotives 300-399
carton 4, Folder 38
Western Pacific steam locomotives 400-499
carton 4, folder 39
Western Pacific steam locomotives 800-899
carton 4, folder 50
Correspondence and photos: Guy L. Dunscomb
carton 4, folder 51
Correspondence and photos: Leah Gunn (Mina, NV & Wendel, CA)
carton 4, Folder 52
Correspondence and photos: Elmo Hardison
carton 4, Folder 53
Correspondence and photos: Eldon W. Lucy
carton 4, folder 54
Correspondence and photos: Cecil N. Nagy (Tunnel 2 at Emigrant Gap)
carton 4, Folder 55
Correspondence and photos: Al C. Phelps
February 22, 1954
carton 4, folder 56
Correspondence and photos: Al C. Phelps
1955-1956
carton 4, Folder 57
Correspondence and photos: John R. Signor (Colusa & Lake)
1994
Subseries 2: Oversize Photos
box 6, folder 3
Southern Pacific diesel locomotives 5000's, 8000's
box 6, folder 4
Southern Pacific rolling stock
box 6, folder 5
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 1800's
box 6, folder 6
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 2000's
box 6, folder 7
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 3000's
box 6, folder 8
Southern Pacific steam locomotives 4000's
box 6, folder 9
Union Pacific steam locomotives, 8808
Series 3: Slide Collection
1955-1972
Scope and Contents
Series 3: Slide Collection is a collection of color and black and white slides of various railroads and California locations.
Slide box 1 contains 609 color and black and white slides taken between 1948 and 1972 of various railroads and California
locations. Some of the railroads listed are Amtrak, Denver and Rio Grande Western, McCloud, MUNI, Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad,
Sierra, Southern Pacific, and Western Pacific. Noted locations are the Chicago Railroad Fair 1948-1949, Colorado Railroad
Museum, Roseville California, Perris California 1972, Truckee California 1960, and the Western Pacific's Feather River route
in 1972. There are slides of the Kennedy Special in 1960. The slide images of the Kennedy Special in 1960 are only of the
train passing by. The people on the train are not visible.
There are three metal cases of slides that have not been processed. Photographers of these slides include Aske, Joe Dixon,
Stan Kistler, Jim Haugh, Richard Lohse, and Leonard Davis. Subjects include Donner Pass, high Sierras, rotary snowplow, Davis
CA, Folsom CA, and Roseville CA. The date range of the slides is ca. 1955-1960.
There is a small box of black and while slides of the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad through the Sierras of
California.
Series 4: Albums
ca. 1900- ca. 1972
Scope and Contents
Series 4: Albums contains two photograph albums that are a compilation of turn of the century and modern black and white photos
from California railroads, stations, and depots as well as track laying and maintenance of way operations.
Album 1 contains: Cover inscribed "Property of Walter Aske, Roseville, Calif." Contains turn of the century photos.
Locations in California include: Blue Canyon, Cape Horn, Davis, Grass Valley, Roseville, Norden, Stockton, and Truckee.
Railroads include Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, Canadian Pacific, Colorado and Southern, Denver and Rio Grande Western, Mississippi
Central, Nevada County Narrow Gauge, Sacramento Northern, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Western Pacific.
Other photo subjects include: aircraft spotters, buildings, fire trains, Japanese 2-man submarines, snow, snowsheds, snowplows,
and a snowshed fire.
Album 2 contains: (turn of the century and modern black and white photos) photos and newspaper clippings on black paper.
The photos range in date from 1921 and are of various locations within California. There are photos of Bay Point on January
30, 1921, when the area received 7" of snow. Other photos include Piedra station and the agent, Bob as well as locations
surrounding Piedra, Fresno County, California, the Santa Fe Station at Porterville and Corcoran, and the watering post at
Lindsay, California. The Martinez Stage and San Joaquin Power Men are pictured.
There is a page of photos of men working in telegraph and ticket offices in the early 1900's. There is a page of early 1900's
automobiles along with an individual labeled: Mr. Moorehouse.
California locations include Bay Point, Piedra, Fresno County,Angiola, Porterville, Corcoran, and Escalon.
Railroads include Santa Fe, New York Central, Illinois Central, Cowell Portland Cement, Sacramento Short Lines, Southern Pacific,
and Union Pacific.
Other photo subjects include Lincoln automobiles, the Martinez stage, the Union Pacific sus, Union Pacific Shops, and Southern
Pacific maintenance of way track operations (location unknown).
There are seven photos in Album 2, taken by GG Reisch in 1972. These photos are of the V&T combo box car No. 1005 or 1007
built in the CPRR Shops in Sacramento, CA in 1872. V&T coach 3 or 4, built by Kimball; V&T coach No. 11 or No. 12 built by
Brill and V&T baggage car No. 14 built by Oxford. These photographs were taken in Los Angeles, California while the cars
were movie cars for Paramount. The passenger cars in the photos, as of 2022, are at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson
City, and the box car is in Virginia City.
box 7
Album 2
Material Specific Details: There are seven photos in Album 2, taken by GG Reisch in 1972. These photos are of the V&T Combo box car 1005 or 1007 built
in the CPRR Shops in Sacramento, CA in 1872. V&T coach 3 or 4, built by Kimball; V&T coach 11 or 12 built by Brill and V&T
baggage car 14 built by Oxford. These were taken in Los Angeles, California when while the cars were movie cars for Paramount.
In 1972, the wooden cars are former Virginia & Truckee cars owned by Paramount (and about to be sold by the studio). The
passenger cars in the photos, as of 2022, are at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, and the box car is in Virginia
City.
